Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Piano Concerto no. 23 A major K. 488

Mozart’s Piano Concerto is one of his most played works. The autograph score is very well preserved and beautifully written. Mozart wrote hurriedly but always clearly, occasionally making corrections; and towards the end the writing becomes increasingly fleeting. Thanks to this high quality facsimile edition we are almost able to peer over his shoulder into the score. The publisher André produced his first edition using this autograph score. It came into the possession of the collector Charles Malherbe, who in turn bequeathed it to the Paris conservatory. Today it is one of the treasures in the “Grande Réserve” held in the music department at the French National Library in Paris. The pianist and conductor András Schiff prompted us to produce this facsimile, substantially contributing to its publication. His preface bears witness to his great enthusiasm for this exceptional work and manuscript.

論評

The publication of a facsimile of a Mozart autograph score is always a welcome event, especially when the quality is high. This facsimile is a credit to its publishers, Henle – the full-size, high-definition colour reproduction is superb, revealing ink colours and (often highly significant) manuscript blemishes in splendid detail. Looking through this facsimile gives almost as much pleasure as looking at the real thing. … All in all, this volume is a splendid addition to the ever-increasing number of Mozart’s works now available in facsimile form. It is to be hoped that it is not a one-off Henle publication and is followed in due course by high-quality facsimiles of other Mozart piano concertos.[Eighteenth-Century Music , 2007]